United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction

The United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction has a long history, with the operating fund set up with support from The Nippon Foundation in 1986, as an international award to recognize individuals and organizations making a contribution to disaster risk reduction activities. In recent years, the award has emphasized inclusive activities that address all people, and people with disabilities and others at high risk in particular. The awards ceremony currently takes place at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, held every three years by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.

In the 1980s, when the award was established, there was much less awareness of disaster preparedness than there is today, but awareness has been growing since then. At the same time, some people, including people with disabilities and older people, are at higher risk. For example, when the major earthquake struck the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan in March 2011, the fatality rate among persons with disabilities was twice that of the total population. With disasters occurring around the world, ongoing risk reduction activities that provide forceful responses leaving no one behind are essential. By recognizing individuals and organizations making a contribution to disaster risk reduction, the United Nations Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction plays a key role in this effort.

The award is presented every three years, with the next awards scheduled for 2028. Candidate nominations are accepted through the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction website. Please visit the website for more information.